"Alright," said Oralie. "The Council has only accessed one forgotten secret in my memory and it was done through proper channels."

She emphasized proper in a way that made Sophie's cheeks flame.

"So how do we do it?" Sophie asked.

"I think I just say the password, which must be stellarlune, or something related to that." replied the counselor.

"Okay, do you have to say it a cer-". She was cut off as a grinding noise emanated from the cache. It split open, and the marble broke open. Then, a new memory began.

* *

"What happened to you?" an elf Sophie had never seen said to who she assumed was Councillor Terik.

He replied "Well Rayana, I was experimenting with ethertine and magsidian, holding them, one in each hand, and had Lady Zillah and Cyrah Endal shoot shadows and light at the magsidian and ethertine, respectively. The next thing I knew, I was being wrapped up in this cocoon thing and falling asleep. Then I woke up here.

Rayana asked: "Well, can you still feel my emotions?"

Sophie's blood froze. Councillor Terik-an Empath?

"Strangely, no. All I get when I touch someone is this sense of good or evil, not their emotions. It almost seems like I can feel their soul. It's really hard to explain. I think...I might have become a Descryer, although I don't know how that is possible" replied Terik.

The look on Rayana's face showed she was shocked. "What?! There hasn't been one of those since Fallon's father."

* *

The memory ended. Oralie looked up at Sophie- fear in her eyes. "Is that what happened to Keefe?"

Sophie's head was spinning. "Kind of. But it wasn't regular shadows, it was shadowflux."

When Oralie asked what that meant, internally Sophie wanted to stand up and yell at Oralie that she didn't know, why would Sophie, the new girl, know, but she restrained herself and instead said, "Keefe might become a Descryer, as Councillor Terik did, or maybe he will manifest a new ability that we've never seen before. All I know is that if we can change people's abilities, our world will never be the same again."

I hope you liked my first chapter, my goal is to add one each week until book 9 comes out! If you like this, please give it Kudos so other people can find it and enjoy it too!

Sophie was laying in her canopied bed, soaking up the space, when she heard voices in the hall. She froze, but then recognized Grizel's voice. Wait- Grizel? Was Fitz there? Her heart thumped. Then she heard Sandor asking Grizel where Fitz was, and Grizel explained that she had left one of the guards that had guarded Alvar on watch over Fitz. She heard two pairs of receding footsteps, and almost followed them, but thought better of it. If Sandor and Grizel wanted some alone time, she could understand that.

She had almost convinced herself that she wasn't curious, but when she saw them, she decided to watch. Internally, she wondered if they did this more often. She stared as she saw them walking, arm-in-arm, toward the Panakes tree. Then they stopped, and Sandor must have said something nice, because Grizel blushed and then blushed even harder as Sandor knelt on one knee and pulled a box out of his pocket, opening it to reveal a ring. She gasped. Sandor and Grizel- married?! Grizel's answer was obvious. It was as picture perfect as all the human movies Sophie had ever seen. Grizel jumped into Sandor's arms, letting him spin her around and around and then, as though the forces of gravity brought them together, they kissed.

The next morning, the images of the previous night in her mind, Sophie asked Grady about goblin weddings. He told her that they usually happened the week after the proposal and were a quiet, small affair with only close friends and family. She heard a grunt of surprise from behind her and turned to see Sandor, cheeks red with embarressment and anger.

"Why are you asking about goblin weddings?" he asked.

Now it was Sophie's turn to be embarressed.

"I... um... ah... saw you... ah... last night with... Grizel."

Just then, coincedentally, Grizel sauntered in, trailed by Fitz. Sophie's eyes met his, and for the first time in a while, her heart didn't flutter as she saw him. She wondered what Keefe would think when he found out they broke up. Right now she didn't even know if he would wake up. Her thoughts were interupted by Grizel greeting Sandor- but as her finacé.

"I came to see if you, Sophie, and of course Grady and Edaline would come to our wedding? It will be in Sandor's house in one week's time."

Sophie's thoughts were a rollercoaster. Sandor- married? To Grizel? How weird would it be to have her bodyguard married? And to her ex-boyfriend's bodyguard? That raised even more questions. Was Fitz technically her ex, if they weren't technically dating? Her spiraling thoughts were interupted by Edaline asking what they should wear, and other protocols. Apparently, like goblin funerals, they should wear gold. But Sophie had a bigger question: If Sandor was married, could he or would still be her bodyguard?
​

Sophie was sitting under the Panakes tree, thinking about everything that had happened, even all the way back to breaking up with Fitz. In a way, it was freeing not to worry about all that dating and matchmaking stuff. Her thoughts were interrupted by her Imparter, which lit up and filled with Elwin’s face. She answered immediately, asking, “How’s Keefe?”

A voice- Keefe’s voice- said “Well, I’m awake, but I can’t really do much because of Elwin, who is killing all my fun! I need some fancy desserts from the Mentor’s only cafeteria!” he whined.

“Well, I’m coming over now,” said Sophie.

She hung up, and started toward the Leapmaster, but decided to try teleporting, but the weird running thing she had done after all the events in Loamnore.

She started running, Tarina following easily, and then she was channeling energy out of her mind and into the fabric of space, picturing Foxfire. She came out running, right in the middle of the campus. She slowed, looking behind her and realizing that Tarina wasn’t there. Oh well, she thought. It’s Foxfire. Nothing is going to happen.

Remembering why she was here, she made her way to the Healing Center, a route she knew by heart. She burst through the doors, and there he was. Awake, smiling...but then his smile dropped as he saw her.

“What? Why are you both staring at me like that?” Sophie asked, confused. Ro glanced at Keefe.

“I decided his punishment for coming to Loamnore when I told him not to. He has to tell you something. And I’ll just be outside the door with Elwin.”

The dread on Keefe’s face was enough to make Sophie worried, so the wink Ro gave Keefe sent her heart plummeting to her stomach, but for some reason, her pulse also quickened.

“So…” she said, crossing to sit next to him. Her arm rested on his wrist. “What do you have to tell me?”

“Oh, nothing,” he said so casually that Sophie almost believed him, until she felt his pulse, steady until then, skip three beats.

“Keefe, I know about tells. Don’t lie to me,” she said.

“Okay, but Fitz is gonna hate me.”

Now Sophie was worried. She was sure Keefe could feel it, but if he could, he didn’t show it. He just turned slightly to face her, the intensity in his eyes making her blush. He grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers through hers, and Sophie felt his pace rapidly speed up. Then the most unexpected words came out of his mouth.

“Sophie, I love you.”

WHAT!!! her brain screamed, barely registering he used her first name. She ripped her hand from his, tearing off her gloves and deactivating her fingernail gadgets. She hadn’t felt any missed heartbeats. Did Keefe really...like her? How long? Why? Now she understood why he had said Fitz would be mad. Sophie realized she had been staring at him, mouth agape, for way too long.

She stammered, “Uh… ok… thanks…” but then she comprehended what he had said.

Keefe LOVED her. Adorable, broken, amazing Keefe loved HER. He loved unmatchable, messed up, stubborn Sophie. Then she became aware of new feelings in her head. It seemed her head and her heart were in sync, feeling the same thing for the first time.

Her heart pulsed with a new beat. She… did she dare say it… loved Keefe? What? But… she liked Fitz or at least she used to. She wasn’t even sure. Yeah, he’d broken up with her, and she was fine. But Keefe. He had always been there for her. Not knowing what she was doing, only that her heart propelled her forward, she leaned in, and kissed Keefe right on the lips. Fireworks exploded in her brain, and melted away as he grabbed her and pulled her toward him.

This was love.

A tiny voice in her head told her that she shouldn’t do this, not so soon after breaking up with Fitz. Then she pulled away as she realized that Keefe didn’t know that she broke up with Fitz.

“Fitz broke up with me.” The words burst out of her like water out of a too full dam. The relief on Keefe’s face was evident.

He stammered “He did? Why? And what happened?”

“Well, I think, I mean, I found out my biological mom, but I told him I wasn’t gonna try to find my biological father, or tell anyone who my mom is, so we basically broke up. I haven’t really talked to him since then.”

“Well,” said Keefe, dragging out the word. “What do we do now?”

Sophie’s heart started racing. She was on the verge of responding when the door opened and Ro walked in, followed by Elwin.

“So,” Ro said. “Did he tell you?”

“Tell her what?” asked Elwin.

“Umm...Ahh…” Keefe stammered. Sophie had never seen him quite so embarrassed or so unsure of what to say. She was glad to see that his cheeks were as red as her’s felt.

Hey y'all, so........... I have a snow day today! We have 12 inches and counting! Anyway, that means I am going to post chapter 4 as soon as I get it typed up, but also if someone actually tells me they want it!

“No… I haven’t done anything at all. Can you really not feel my emotions?” Sophie was worried now. She hadn’t shared her theories about what had happened with anyone, except Oralie, but she was trying not to think about her. But that would explain Keefe’s reluctance to touch her or be near her when her enhancing was on.

Noticing him glancing at her, she said, “Why do you keep glancing at me?”

“Nothin’. Just…” and then he would trail off into mumbling that she couldn’t understand.She grabbed his hand, forcing him to look at her.

“Keefe! What’s going on?” she demanded, genuinely worried now.

“Well, I can’t feel your emotions, but I can feel three things. You know how I told you that emotions have colors? Well, now, I can only feel three “colors”: black, white, and red. Basically, the black is on one side and the white on the other, and I can change where the red is.” explained Keefe with a note of frustration in his voice.

Suddenly, Sophie felt the overwhelming urge to slap Keefe and stomp out the door. She was barely able to restrain herself. Scared, she looked at Keefe.

“Did you do that?” she asked. “Did you make me feel like slapping you?”

“I must have,” he replied. “I tried moving your red area into the black side. So that must have been your reaction.”

“Well, try the other side,” she responded, nervous about what might happen.

He must have done something, because she abruptly felt the urge to go hug Elwin and do all she could for others, along with the urge to go and sing for joy in the main square of Atlantis.

Her brain suddenly swamped with emotion and information, she told Keefe she had to go, turning back to look at him once more as the light pulled her away. During the leap, she reflected that he had looked scared, hurt, and most clearly not himself.

All her thoughts went out of her head when she arrived home. All four of her bodyguards were standing in a circle with Grady and Edaline looking at what must have been the device that tracked the trackers in her clothes.

Sandor said, “This is showing she is at Foxfire, no wait, now it is recalculating, she must have light-leaped, ok, now it is showing she is-”

“Right behind you!” said Sophie.

Sandor turned back, glowering. “What reason do you have for this. You left without your bodyguards! Do you have any idea what could have happened?”

Wisely, Sophie decided not to go down that path. Instead she tried to calmly explain.

“Elwin hailed me and told me Keefe was awake, so I teleported to him. I thought Tarina was coming with me, but apparently she couldn’t.”

“Well, all I know is that you were running, and then all of a sudden, you disappeared,” said Tarina.

“All I did was go to Foxfire to visit Keefe and see how he was doing, and then I came back here. That’s all. I thought Tarina would have been able to follow me, but apparently not. I’m sorry.”

And with that, she pushed past her bodyguards, heading toward her room so she could think.

That evening, Sophie hailed Team Valiant, deciding that they would be the right people to help her research shadowflux and quintessence and their respective relations to magsidian and ethertine. Fifteen minutes later, when they had all gathered, Sophie told them what she knew.

“So starting with quintessence, here is what I know. Quintessence is used in making frissyn and is gathered from Elementine.”

Sitting next to her, Biana said, “Well, I know that Lady Zillah said quintessence pulses when you’re near it.”

“And Lady Gisela said ethertine is a combination of lightning and starlight, quintessence specifically,” said Stina.

Wylie replied, “For dwarves, it’s supposed to heighten emotion dull inhibition, and ethertine was used to control Tam, so I guess it also gives control over the mind?” The mention of ethertine set Sophie’s brain whirling even more than it already was. A memory from her philosophy class with humans pricked her mind. Something about quintessence… Oh! It was Aristotle who had called ether the fifth element. Did that mean that ethertine was really the fifth element instead of quintessence?

“Care to clue us in about these crazy mood swings I’m feeling?” Stina asked, sounding so much like Keefe that she blushed, hoping they would just think it was about what she was going to share, not anything else. She shoved all the worrying thoughts into a box marked To Deal With Later, and continued talking, telling her friends what she knew.

Sophie was somewhat embarrassed about her human knowledge since so much of it was wrong. But maybe Aristotle had known elves and had actually known about ethertine.

That thought was almost too big to fit in her mind. Previously, she had imagined elvin and human history as separated, like they were now. But now she could imagine their histories weaving together and overlapping.

Dragging her thoughts back on track, she asked, “Well, what about shadowflux and magsidian?

Wylie spoke up now. “Well, I know that only dwarves can mine magsidian, and it will do different things based on how it is carved. “

“Didn’t Nubiti, or should I say Queen Nubiti, say that magsidian is made by meteors that fell long ago and mixed with shadowflux?” said Dex.

“I know that Umber could track Fitz’s and my echoes, and Tam said when he called the shadowflux out of our bodies that it just slithered away. And Lady Zillah said that it carried the will of the one commanding it,” said Sophie.

“Well,” said Stina, “That’s a lot of information, but what does it mean?”

“What do you mean, what happened to you?” asked Biana, glancing at Sophie and back to Keefe. “Did you know about this Sophie?” accused Biana.

“Well, yes, kind of, and I-” said Sophie.

Biana interrupted. “Nevermind. What happened, Keefe?”

His face flushed, eyes darting between Sophie and Biana, Keefe replied, “Well, it started when I couldn’t feel Sophie’s emotions, instead there were three colors. I know it sounds weird, but I could move the red onto the black or white. After she left, I hailed Oralie because she’s an Empath and on the council. She came, and I couldn’t feel her emotions, only the three colors like on Sophie. I told her that, and she actually listened and seemed to believe me. She hailed Councillor Terik, and when he came over, he told me I had become a Descryer like him, only more powerful. I’m still not sure what I can do, but that’s it.”

There was a pause as everyone processed the information. The wind blew gracefully through the leaves on the trees, and there were faint noises coming from the animals.

“So, you’re not an Empath anymore?” asked Stina. “Huh. I guess that means I’m the only Empath in this group,” she said, answering her own question.

“Wait. If whatever they did to Keefe can change our abilities, does that mean that Talentless people could potentially get an ability?” asked Dex. That would be a huge deal, Sophie realized. If Kesler, Dex’s dad, could get an ability, then Kesler and Juline would no longer be a bad match.

“I don’t know,” said Sophie. “I think we should all report to the council. But let’s do it formally- with our capes and pins and circlets. How about we meet back here tomorrow morning at 10:30?”

After agreeing and saying goodbyes, everyone left, all except Keefe.

“So...do I get to come? I know I’m not a part of Team Valiant, but this is sort of about me, ya know?” Keefe said.

“I know,” Sophie replied. “But I don’t think you’re allowed in the Seat of Eminence. I’ll ask the council when we’re there.”

“Ok, thanks,” he said.

Sophie was unsure what to do next so she was about to walk away when Keefe caught her arm.

“Wait! I… well… what are we right now? Like, what happened? You kissed me, which is something I’ve dreamed about for years, and you said you broke up with Fitz, or he broke up with you, but what are we? Are we… dating?... or just friends?... or just in the awkward in between?”

Sophie stopped his rambling and stammering by grabbing his hand.

“Keefe. Look at me.” When he complied, she continued. “I haven’t ever felt the way I did when I kissed you. This might seem weird, but you know the book your dad wrote, and that you told me about after I kissed Dex? I think I was the same way. I thought I liked Fitz because he was the perfect golden boy who rescued me, but that illusion has shattered. If he really loved me, he wouldn’t have cared about the match. You, on the other hand, while you are not perfect, are willing to try to make it up to me. When you went to Ravagog, yes, you betrayed me, but then you stayed in bed for a week on my insisting- and Ro’s- and when I was in the healing center after being attacked, it was you who came in to entertain me and save me from boredom. So, yes Keefe, I guess what I’m saying is I love you. You are not perfect, but that’s what I love.”

By the end, Keefe’s eyes were glittering with tears.

“I… don’t know what to say. I’ve never had anyone care that much about me, not even my parents. And I’ve liked you practically since I met you, but I really fell in love in Alluveterre. And then the first inkling I got of you possibly feeling the same way was when you had just manifested as an enhancer. I could feel an entirely different set of feelings, feelings that told me you liked me, but I didn’t tell you because I knew you thought you liked Fitz. So I guess what I’m trying to say is, I love you too, Sophie Elizabeth Foster.”

Sophie’s head was whirling- no it was floating- no it was dancing in the air. She had never felt this way before. There weren’t even words for it, and then her heart soared even more as Keefe drew her closer, holding her to him, holding her like he would never let go. She gazed into his ice blue eyes, and the intensity she saw there made her heart shift into an even faster tempo, like a hummingbird’s wings. This was different from when she had stood in a nearly identical position with Fitz.

Then, lost in the moment, she jumped back as she heard a voice behind her.

Let me know what you all think, and really, if you have ANY questions AT ALL, don't hesitate to message me on my wall! I try to check messages at least once everyday, but with school and sports and music and homework, I'm pretty busy, so from now on it will probably only be on weekends that I post more because that is when I have the time to sit down and type.

Sophitz5ever wrote:Also, you might be wondering, if my username is Sophitz5ever, why I am writing a Sokeefe fanfic! That is because I made my username, and then a lot of things convinced me to start shipping Sophie and Keefe, but I couldn't change my username.* Anyway, sorry I'm rambling so much, I've got to go to bed now, so goodnight y'all!

If you know how to do this, PLEASE TELL ME ASAP!

i know how to, but it's too hard to explain. Go here - to learn how to change your username.

This is so good! I just found it and I love it! I’m DaSnowLeopard and I’m right now writing my own fanfic after Legacy but I love yours!!!! In mine Keefe has a different ability and he is like,... you’ll have to read, All the answers or the new name I’m coming up with, Revealed.

Wow! I was kind of shocked to see how many responses there are on here! In answer to @Sokeefe4eva, my schedule is one chapter a week, usually on Saturday or Sunday, but I posted more over Thanksgiving because I had time. I have a really busy week usually between homework, school, swim practice, weight training, and violin practices. The next few Saturdays I also have drivers ed for 9 hours!

Anyway, please forgive me if I have delays on here, I try to respond as much as I can! Thanks for reading!

MintChocolateRipplefluffs wrote:Wow! I was kind of shocked to see how many responses there are on here! In answer to @Sokeefe4eva, my schedule is one chapter a week, usually on Saturday or Sunday, but I posted more over Thanksgiving because I had time. I have a really busy week usually between homework, school, swim practice, weight training, and violin practices. The next few Saturdays I also have drivers ed for 9 hours!

Anyway, please forgive me if I have delays on here, I try to respond as much as I can! Thanks for reading!

MintChocolateRipplefluffs wrote:I’m hopefully going to post more today, next week is finals for me tho, and I go to a really hard school, and I’m in a bunch of hard classes! Sorry I haven’t been that active.

​​​​​​​It's fine. I get it. I'm only in middle school (a really hard one too), and I'm in a a hard math class. We won't pressure you. Take as much time as you need for your chapters. But I can't wait till you post it!!!

PLEASE, I BEG YOU POST A NEW CHAPTER (or you know 2 or 3 more) THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME!!!! btw I am so glad Sophie and Fitz broke up, Foster can finally date Keefe!!!!! #Keefoster4ever! I'm a nerd, sorry, not sorry. ;p

Hi guys so I agree that Fitz was a jerk to pressure Sophie like that but also understand that Keefe grew up with mean parents and he finally found sophie someone who loves him and cares for him and he can't aford to ask her moms name . Also Fitz grew up in a very well not strict family but a very modled family and he might feel like without knowing Sophies mother that she is keeping secrets from him. please don't kill me about this I still think that he was a jerk and that it shouldn't matter weather he knows or not.

Just gotta say, I'm a liar, cause I said I would post a chapter a week and I definitely haven't done that. Anyway, I'm typing up more as soon as I'm done typing this, so hopefully you won't have to wait much longer!

Turning quickly, cheeks flushed, Sophie saw Fitz, flanked by Grizel. Let me take care of this, she transmitted to Keefe as she stepped forward and grabbed Fitz’s hand. She led him toward the Panakes tree.

“So, I know this is really hard to explain, but I’m gonna be straight with you. I like Keefe. A lot”

The hurt on his face was obvious.

“I still want to be friends,” Sophie reassured him. “I definitely want to still be Cognates, but I just...don’t feel the same way I used to.”

Fitz replied calmly, “Well, I can’t say I like it, but what I will say is I do and always will love you. We absolutely can still be Cognates, as long as you promise to share everything except the Keefe stuff because I don’t really want to know about all that.”

He had tears rolling down his cheeks now, and Sophie didn’t know what else to do, so she gave him a hug, putting her arms cautiously around him.

“Well,” said Grizel, “How about we discuss what Fitz dragged me here for originally?”

They all looked at Fitz, who was still standing close to Sophie. Keefe had moved on her other side and grabbed her hand, so Grizel was left standing in front of the three of them.

“Well, I was talking to Linh, and she recovered a missing memory. She has an older sister, apparently. Her name is Rayana,” said Fitz.

Sophie’s heart leapt into her throat, her brain taking too long to make the connection. Rayana...Rayana… She had heard that name before. Where was it? Was she a girl from school? No… Someone from Exilium? Then she remembered. Rayana was the person in the forgotten secret! What did she have to do with anything? If she was Tam and Linh’s sister, than that memory couldn’t be very old.

“Did Linh find out how old her sister was?” Sophie asked.

“No, but the memory was in Lighthaven, and Linh said that her parents moved away from there 80 years ago. Rayana must be a lot older than Linh and Tam,” Fitz replied.

“Lighthaven? I’ve never heard of that before.”

Keefe jumped in. “It’s a place where flashers can practice best because the light is easier to sense there. There are actually multiple houses there. It’s pretty much the only Elvin neighborhood.”

“Does that mean Rayana is a Flasher?” asked Sophie.

“Yeah. I remember hearing from Luiza that even just being there made her more powerful,” said Fitz.

“Okay, this is a lot of information. I need some time to think. I’ll call you both later, alright?”

Without waiting for a reply, Sophie turned and walked toward her house. The sun was just shimmering over the surface of the ocean, creating a beautiful scene, but Sophie was too tired to enjoy any of it.

Thanks everyone! I'm trying not to portray Fitz as really bad, but I also don't love him. I also get tho that we're all messed up and yes, I know their elves, but they are like humans in the respect that they aren't perfect.

In answer to @SilverStar4758, no, I have actually never considered being an author. I want to major in music in college, acutally!

Hopefully I'll get more posted in the next few days, but tomorrow is my birthday, (I'm turning 15!), the day after is when my sister-in-law is due to have her baby(a boy!), and the next day is New Years Eve and I'm having a bunch of friends over, so we'll see what happens!

Happy Birthday/ New year! And congrats to your sister in law on her baby. I think that you write awesome stories and even though you haven't considered being an author, I wish you the best in your music future!

Even though she was looking forward to a hot shower and going to bed, when she heard Silveny’s excited chanting, she had no choice but to go see what was happening.

SOPHIE! SOPHIE! SOPHIE!

PLAY! PLAY! PLAY!

WYNN! LUNA! PLAY!

Okay, thought Sophie.

And so she jumped into a game of tag, which the alicorns eventually won. It wasn’t really fair because Wynn and Luna were young, energetic alicorns who could teleport and Sophie was a tired teenager, with only two legs. Later when they played hide and seek, Sophie won though because she could track Wynn and Luna’s thoughts the same way she could track her friends in base quest.

She played with the twins for close to an hour before telling Silveny she was too tired. Although the entire alicorn family was sad, maybe with the exception of Greyfell.

Suddenly more tired that she thought, Sophie trudged up the stairs to her room, flopping into bed without even changing clothes or brushing her teeth.

Reflecting her day, her dreams were strange.

She dreamt of Fitz holding her hand, staring at her in the way only he could, but then his hand turned to ice and his body melted away, trickling down the cliff in a stream of cold water that was then blown off the cliff.

Then Dex was there, his mouth moving to describe something, but Sophie couldn’t hear him. Then a stream of water came and broke him. Dex dissolved into dust and blew away on the mounting breeze.

Suddenly Keefe was next to her, holding her hand and leaning into her. But suddenly there was no more resistance on her shoulder as he disappeared. A gust of wind ruffled her hair.

Then all three appeared, but Fitz was made of ice, Dex of swirling clouds of dust, and Keefe was stormy clouds. They were each wearing the clothes of her nightmares with their long black cloaks with white eyes on the sleeves. She glanced down, noticing she was wearing one too. Glancing back up, Keefe and the others were gone, replaced by Gethen, Brant, and Fintan.

Mocking her, Brant said, “You didn’t really think any of your friends were really loyal to you, did you? They’ve all joined us, every last one. And now you will too.”

Then he laughed maniacally. As Gethen and Fintan joined in, they all lunged at her, pinning her arms to her side with hands that felt like fire and ice.

Sophie woke with a start, sweat all over her body. Realizing Silveny hadn't reached out to help her with dreams, Sophie ran out her door, panic blaring.

“Wait, Miss Foster, where are you going?” asked Sandor.

“Out to check on Silveny, she didn't check in tonight or help me with my dreams. I woke up from a nightmare and realized it so I'm going to check on her,”

“No, I will go check,” said Sandor.

As he walked out, Sophie realized it had only been less than a day since he had got engaged. So much had happened since then that Sophie had nearly forgotten. Deciding that Sandor could handle anything with Silveny, Sophie went back to bed.

OOOH! What if mabey all the fanfiction authors send out a really long chapter in their stories on Sunday? If they can, anyways.... also if you like this idea and your an author (For Fanfics) then quote and say Shrimp for no, or Salmon for yes. ( Anyone can do this if they want to have chapters released on Sunday.)

The next morning, Sophie woke to Edaline’s gentle tapping on the shoulder.

“Sophie. Wake up, sweetie. You have some friends here.”

“Who?” she asked groggily.

“Tam, Linh, Maruca, Wylie, and another girl I think Linh called Rayana.”

That set Sophie wide awake. This Rayana character is popping up everywhere she thought.

“Ok. Thanks for telling me, I’ll just get changed now,” she replied.

Not knowing why, Sophie got dressed more carefully than normal. She grabbed a maroon dress with a high neckline but a sheer “belt” around her waist. It flared out below the waistline, ending a few inches above her knees. It’s sleeveless and fitted nature made her feel strong and feminine at the same time. When she matched it with a pair of soft-soled dark brown boots and a simple gold necklace, she felt beautiful. She even took the time to put on some make-up. Wow, she thought, Biana must really be rubbing off on me.

Matching her necklace, she put on some gold and rust colored eyeshadow and black with gold-flecks eyeliner. With her hair hanging in loose waves around her face, she walked to the door.

She started, but when she turned she realized it was just Vertina. She had started talking more with her spectral mirror since Fitz and her had become more of a thing, and then the resulting breakup. Vertina actually had quite a lot of good advice.

And with that, she walked out the door. Everyone was gathered in the living room, eating dulcnuts. Sophie had never had one before, so she was surprised when they turned out to be similar to Reese's Peanut Butter cups, except a thousand times better.

They were warm, but didn’t melt all over her fingers. They were creamy, not grainy, and just overall delicious. The dulcnut she was holding was star shaped, with an indent in the middle filled with the peanut butter flavoring. She could see heart-shaped ones, circles, and lots of other shapes on the tray in front of her.

Dulcnuts immediately went to the top of her list of Elvin desserts.

“So…” Sophie said, unsure of why her friends were here.

“You’re probably wondering why we’re here,” said Maruca.

“Yeah.”

Linh spoke next. “Well, first let me introduce my sister to you! Sophie, this is Rayana! Rayana, this is Sophie.”

Sophie would have freaked out if Fitz hadn’t already told her. Instead, she just said, “Nice to meet you, Rayana.”

“You as well! But I will be straightforward with why I’m here: I want to join the Black Swan.”

“Umm…” Sophie didn’t know how to respond.

“I’m a Flasher,” she said as she flicked a ball of light on and off in her hand. “But I can do more than that. Like how shades can control Shadowflux, I can control Quintessence, if I work with Maruca.”

To demonstrate, she grabbed Maruca’s hands, showing how they could make a glowing white ball of light. It pulsed, seeming to fill the room with the sound of a beating drum.

“Can you do that with Maruca too, Wylie?” Sophie asked.

“No,” he admitted.

“But show her what else you can do” Wylie urged Maruca and Rayana, who were still holding the ball of quintessence.

“Do you have a metal object that you don’t want back?” Maruca asked.

Sophie handed her the tray the dulcnuts were on, brushing away the few lingering crumbs.

“Here. Just use this,” she said.

“Ok. Basically whenever we touch this ball of quintessence to anything metal, it-”

As the quintessence touched the metal, the tray suddenly glowed, seeming to absorb the light.

Then…

nothing.

Sophie was about to ask if that was all, but the Wylie edged closer to the tray, zapping it with a bolt of lightning. The tray transformed into a glowing platter, and it looked exactly like the glowing ethertine bonds that Tam had.

“Yeah,” Wylie replied. “But only with the three of us. I provide the lightning and Rayana and Maruca provide the quintessence.”

“But they can’t do it without me, apparently, so I would like to join the Black Swan,” reiterated Rayana.

“Alright,” said Sophie. “I can’t promise anything except that I will ask the Collective at our next meeting. But right now, I have a meeting with Team Valiant and the Council.

***

An hour later, Team Valiant was all gathered in their moonlight silvery cloaks, their rose gold starlight pins and their gold sunlight circlets. All in all, they were a very glittery and metallic group. Joining hands, Sophie raised the crystal to Eternalia. Glittering into sight on the steps of the Seat of Eminence, Sophie felt proud. She was the leader of this ground-breaking small group.

Then, as they walked into the blackness of the entryway, she cleared her mind. The journey in was almost the same as the first time she had been there. The councillors greeted them, asking Sophie why they were there.

“Keefe came and talked to us during a brainstorming session, so we know he has become a Descryer. Does that mean abilities can be changed?”

Bronte suggested they go to a meeting room to discuss all of their questions and ideas.

When they arrived, he replied, “In answer to your question, Miss Foster, yes. We can change and even grant abilities. But with the power to grant also comes the power to take away. We just discovered this ourselves when Oralie told us about opening her cache. It seems she decided to bypass normal actions,” said Bronte with a knowing glance at Sophie.

Sophie opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by Bronte’s reply.

“Although her actions were a little bit unorthodox, you are a regent. And we likely would have shared our findings anyway,” Bronte reassured her.

“But now comes the question of what to do,” said Councillor Terik. “If I were to start mentoring him at Foxfire, then questions would be asked and this secret would get out. I’m sure you can imagine how the people would react if they knew we could change or alter abilities. However, there is no reason for him to continue his Empath training if he no longer has the ability.”

“So what do you want us to do?” asked Biana.

“Well, Miss Vacker, we would like you to go and get Keefe and bring him back here, to the Seat of Eminence,” said Councillor Bronte.

“Wait,” said Dex. “ I thought only people in the nobility could enter this place?”

“That is correct, but we will make an exception for him this one time,” Oralie said. Turning to Sophie, Oralie asked, “Can you bring him here?”

Also, if you have any theories or ideas that you would like incorporated into this fanfiction, I will try to include them as long as they don't conflict with what I already have planned. ( I have through chapter 14 written already so I can't change those a ton.)

MintChocolateRipplefluffs wrote:Thanks everyone! I'm trying not to portray Fitz as really bad, but I also don't love him. I also get tho that we're all messed up and yes, I know their elves, but they are like humans in the respect that they aren't perfect.

In answer to @SilverStar4758, no, I have actually never considered being an author. I want to major in music in college, acutally!

Hopefully I'll get more posted in the next few days, but tomorrow is my birthday, (I'm turning 15!), the day after is when my sister-in-law is due to have her baby(a boy!), and the next day is New Years Eve and I'm having a bunch of friends over, so we'll see what happens!

Sophie arrived at the Shores of Solace to get Keefe, but was confronted by Lord Cassius.

“What happened to my son?” he asked. “I know he went to Loamnore, but what happened there? Elwin wouldn’t let me in to see Keefe, telling me that he needed to work. But Ro told me you came to visit him. So what happened?’

“Well…” Sophie was unsure of what to say. If she told Keefe’s dad what had happened, would that be betraying Keefe? On the other hand, Lord Cassius was a part of the Black Swan, and he was Keefe’s dad. Not a very good one, but still his dad.

Sophie finally understood why people kept saying that. She thought that not being oblivious was pretty good. Remembering to knock this time, Sophie pushed Keefe’s door open slowly. She found him sitting in a chair by his bed, staring at a book like it contained the secrets of the universe but also like it was the worst thing he had ever seen.

He glanced up. “Oh, hey,” he said.

“Hi,” said Sophie.

Crossing the room, she sat on his bed near him. He set his book aside, coming to sit next to her - right next to her. Her heart started beating faster with the contact. Suddenly she was overcome with desire. This boy sitting next to her was amazing and she wanted him to know it.

Leaning in close to whisper next to his ear, she said, “Keefe Sencen, you are amazing”

He looked at her, an intensity in his eyes that made her already fast-beating heart increase its cadence. Slowly, without responding in words, he leaned even closer, catching her chin in his hand and drawing her in until their noses brushed. His eyes said it all.

With his voice low and husky, he breathed, “I love you.”

And with those words, Sophie was his. Completely, irrevocably, his.

And they kissed. Long, slow, passionate, rolling backwards onto his bed until they were laying on their sides facing each other. Keefe broke the kiss, only to kiss her again on the cheek, then the jaw, then all the way down her neck.

Sophie marveled at the boy in front of her. He had changed so much in the short time she had known him. He was no longer the confident prankster with the messed up life behind. Sure, his life was still messed up, but he had a more serious side that he could present too, the side she was privileged to see now. He pulled her into a hug, and she felt his muscular arms on hers, holding her as if she might break but so tight it felt like he would never let go. And she frankly didn’t want him to.

Keefe’s POV, starting when Sophie first comes in

Keefe was reading this book, that torturous book, when the door opened. With the light of the sun framing her face, her blond hair looked golden, shimmering dazzlingly. He couldn’t believe she loved him, couldn’t believe she was his. She walked over and sat on the bed near him. But it wasn’t close enough for him. Knowing he could never concentrate on his book now, he got up and sat next to her, putting his arm around her shoulders and drawing her to himself. She leaned into him, tilting her head up so her mouth was next to his ear.

“Keefe Sencen, you are amazing” she said.

Keefe didn’t know what to say. His father called him a disappointment. His friends called him the funny prankster. His mother called him useless. But she, she called him amazing. He loved her so much.

“I love you,” he said, wishing he could tell her how much she meant to him, but words failed him. But where his words failed, his body seemed to know what to do. Holding her like a piece of china, so precious, he kissed her up and down the area around her head, marveling at the soft feel of her skin on his lips.

Sophie’s POV

Sitting back up, Sophie spoke,

“So… what book were you reading when I first came in?” Sophie asked, breaking the last pieces of the spell over the room.

“Its called A Descryer’s Guide to Descrying, written by Councillor Terik.”

“Yeah, but I call it the Descryers Guide to Dying,” said Ro from her post outside the door. Sophie had forgotten Ro was there. Her cheeks flamed red, but then she realized the door was closed so Ro couldn’t have seen anything. Now though, Ro opened the door, raising her eyebrows at how close they were sitting.

Picking at her sparkly blue nails, she said, “Seriously though! He read me a part of it and I wanted to chuck that book all the way to Loamnore.”

“Yeah me too,” said Keefe. “But it’s my only source of information about my new ability that I have right now.”

“Okay, that’s a perfect segway to why I’m here!” said Sophie, taking the small moment of opportunity.

“What? You didn’t come here just to see me?” teased Keefe.

Slightly aggravated now, Sophie replied, “No, the council wants to talk to you and they sent me to come and get you.”

The blood drained out of Keefe’s face.

“No! I can’t go to the council!”

And with that, Sophie found herself turning and walking out the door, blackness in her heart.

I'm thinking of writing a story that's just Sophie and Keefe and the characters, but with basically no plot just moment after moment of cute/sweet/romantic moments between Sophie&Keefe, Linh&Fitz, Tam&Biana, and Dex&Marella. Any thoughts or ideas?

I'm thinking of writing a story that's just Sophie and Keefe and the characters, but with basically no plot just moment after moment of cute/sweet/romantic moments between Sophie&Keefe, Linh&Fitz, Tam&Biana, and Dex&Marella. Any thoughts or ideas?

I'm thinking of writing a story that's just Sophie and Keefe and the characters, but with basically no plot just moment after moment of cute/sweet/romantic moments between Sophie&Keefe, Linh&Fitz, Tam&Biana, and Dex&Marella. Any thoughts or ideas?

Alrighty folks, so heres the deal! I'm going to post a google form quiz that all of you can take about me, and this fanfiction. I'll only be pulling information from this list of comments and published chapters, nothing from my profile, so look over it all! I'll post it in a few minutes and it will close at 1:00 pm MST on Monday!

BTW, the reward is access to my Google Doc where I have the WHOLE fanfic typed up, including unpublished chapters! You'll even be able to comment if you want!